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A Georgia federal judge has dismissed without prejudice a lawsuit accusing Google and Roblox of fueling video game addiction, blasting the 216-page filing as bloated, confusing, and vague. The case, brought by gamer Andre Sayers, alleged that the companies knowingly distributed products designed to create compulsive gaming behaviors.

In his Thursday order, U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker said Sayers’ case “bears all the hallmarks of a shotgun pleading.” The judge criticized the complaint for failing to tie allegations to specific products, noting it was packed with irrelevant material that “read more like a colorful press release” than a legal claim.

Claims Against Tech Giants Lack Precision

Sayers contended that Google and Roblox ignored health risks linked to their products but failed to identify any particular defects or design flaws. His allegations against Google hinged on games sold through the Play Store, though the filing lacked clarity on whether Google actually designed those products.

The judge gave Sayers permission to submit a new version of the complaint—capped at 80 pages—warning that the original’s excessive length “only added to its confusion.”

Partial Win for Sayers, But Hurdles Ahead

While Judge Baker dismissed the suit for vagueness, he partially denied Google and Roblox’s bid to kill the claims permanently under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and the First Amendment. The court said those defenses cannot be weighed until Sayers lays out his arguments with clarity.

Other gaming giants, including Activision Blizzard, remain tied to the case, though their claims are stayed pending arbitration.

The Gamer’s Allegations: A Global Addiction Crisis

Sayers, 23, said he has been gaming since age 10 and now spends five to nine hours daily playing titles such as Minecraft, Fortnite, and Call of Duty. He argued that developers employ manipulative systems—loot boxes, microtransactions, and pay-to-win models—to hook players while draining their wallets.

The gamer claims he suffers from ADHD, anxiety, and depression aggravated by his gaming habits. His lawsuit asserts that 3% of players worldwide—about 60 million people—are addicted, with youth addiction rates even higher at 8.5%.

Sayers accused developers of orchestrating a “concerted effort” to maximize profits by fostering addiction, calling video game dependency a “worldwide epidemic.”

Representation

• Plaintiff Sayers is represented by Paul W. Painter III of Bowen Painter Trial Lawyers and Tina Bullock of Bullock Ward Mason LLC.

• Roblox is represented by W. Carl Lietz III of Finch McCranie LLP and Behnam Dayanim and David P. Fuad of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

• Google is represented by William V. Custer and Christian J. Bromley of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, and Brian Willen and Jeremy Auster of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.